Voices for Education in Uncertain Times: The Transformative Role of Education Coalitions toward the Right to Education in the Digital Age

• In Event: Global Policy Networks, Advocacy Coalitions, and the Neoconservative Turn in Education

Proposal

This empirical research examines the role of education coalitions in advocating for the right to education, focusing on their strategies and direct action in the digital landscape. The study centers on the Pakistan National Education Campaign (PCE), which collaborates with the Global Campaign for Education (GCE) to resist neoliberal privatization and promote free, high-quality public education. Through Whole Network Analysis (WNA), this research maps PCE’s relationships with stakeholders across local, national, and international levels. The study explores how PCE uses digital tools and direct action to influence policy, promote inclusivity, and challenge inequities in education. It provides insights into how coalitions drive equitable reform in the digital age.
Relevance to CIES 2025
This research aligns with the CIES 2025 theme by analyzing how education coalitions adapt to digital transformation to advocate for education as a fundamental right. The study examines how coalitions use digital tools and networks in education governance, reflecting the conference’s focus on education in a digitally interconnected world. Additionally, it highlights how coalitions resist education privatization and support inclusive, public education systems, addressing key concerns of CIES 2025.
Theoretical Framework and Research Questions
This study integrates Cortina & Lafuente (2018) on the collaborative dynamics of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Verger & Novelli’s (2010) work on education coalition strategies. Arvidson et al. (2018) informs the analysis of how digital platforms support advocacy in the digital age. The research addresses two main questions:
1. How do education coalitions like PCE leverage direct action and digital platforms to influence education policy?
2. What strategies effectively promote inclusive public education in Pakistan’s socio-political context?
Data Collection and Analysis
Data are drawn from coalition documents, policy briefs, social media content, and network mapping of PCE’s partnerships. Whole Network Analysis (WNA) maps PCE’s relationships with collaborators, identifying key influencers. Additional data come from Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with PCE leaders and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with PCE members, providing qualitative insights into their strategies and advocacy challenges.
Research Methods and Findings
This study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining WNA with qualitative interviews and focus group discussions. The WNA maps PCE’s collaborations with key stakeholders and examines how these networks drive advocacy efforts. KIIs and FGDs offer insights into PCE’s strategic decisions and public engagement. The findings show that PCE’s direct action and digital advocacy amplify its influence, allowing it to challenge privatization pressures and promote inclusive public education. Digital platforms broaden PCE’s advocacy reach, enabling engagement with global audiences and strengthening policy impact.
Original Contribution
This study contributes to comparative education by exploring how education coalitions use direct action and digital tools to advocate for equitable education. It provides a fresh analysis of coalition strategies in the digital age and highlights their potential to resist neoliberal pressures. The study emphasizes the importance of digital platforms in building resilient advocacy networks and achieving systemic change, contributing to discussions on education governance in a globalized, digital society.

Authors

• Zain Ul Abidin, The University of Glasgow

• Sundas Fayyaz, Independent Consultant